Spring powered moveable target holder



July 16, 1968 G. A. ORTEGA SPRING POWERED MOVBABLE TARGET HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 24, 1965 INVENTOR. GEO/"9'6 Orfeya July 16, 1968 G. A. ORTEGA' 3,392,980

SPRING POWERED MOVEABLE TARGET HOLDER Filed Aug. 24, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEO/ye /Z 0rieya 3Y4 m JWM M12 United States Patent 3,392,980 SPRING POWERED MOVEABLE TARGET HOLDER George A. Ortega, 6804 Murray Hill Drive, Oxon Hill, Md. 20022 Filed Aug. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 482,312 Claims. (Cl. 273--105.6)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A target holder in which a target holding frame is pivoted to a support mounted on a base and is operated by a pull cable. A snap-over-center type spring arrangement permits quick and easy operation by the cable to move the target holder into and out of an exposed position by successive pulls in the same direction.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a target holder, and more particularly to a cable operated, retractable target holder for use with a standard type cardboard silhouette target.

Briefly, the invention consists of a frame for the insertion of a cardboard target therein which is balanced by a snap-over center spring arrangement. A cable attached to the device may be operated from a safe distance and a tug on the cable, by the operator, will cause the frame to pop up to a vertical position to expose the target to the firer. A second tug on the cable will cause the target to rotate back to the horizontal, concealed position, or vice versa. It is a primary object of this invention to provide a target holder for interchangeable cardboard targets that is spring-balanced whereby the holder may be quickly rotated from a vertical to a horizontal position or vice versa.

Another object is to provide a target holder which clamps the target and in which the target may be quickly interchanged.

A further object is to provide a target holder that is simple of construction and Which has a long life.

A still further object is to provide a target holder which may be operated from a remote point therefrom.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the target holder of this invention, the target per se being shown in broken lines and in a vertical position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the target holder, the horizontal, or concealed, position of the target being shown in broken lines; and,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the target holder.

With reference to the drawings in detail, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the reference numeral designates generally the target holder of the invention.

The target holder 10 is provided with a flat base 11 which may be of reinforced concrete.

A target holding frame, indicated generally by 12 is rotatably mounted on a support indicated generally by 13 and comprises a vertical leg 14, which is imbedded in base 11, a horizontal portion 15, an angular portion 16 which is also imbedded in base 11 and another horizontal portion 17, shorter than portion 15, which protrudes from a side of the base 11. The support 13 may be of rounded metal stock and is a unitary member. Angular portion 16 assumes an angle of substantially 45 with the vertical.

Frame 12, may be of wood, and consists of a pair of end lengths 18 and 19 and cross strips 20, 21, 22 and 23 3,392,980 Patented July 16, 1968 which are attached to strips 18 and 19 at their ends so as to provide a slot 24 into which a cardboard target 25 may be inserted. Shims 26 between strips 2023 and strips 18 and 19 may be employed to compensate for cardboard targets having bases of a different size. A silhouette cardboard target is usually attached to a base of wood for reinforcement and insertion into the target holder. One form of base 27 is indicated by broken lines in FIG. 1.

Target holder frame 12 is rotatably mounted on the horizontal portion 15 of support 13 by straps 28 which fit over bushings 29 on portion 15. Straps 28 are fastened to strip 21 as shown, by suitable means such as nails 30, or like means.

Means are provided for rotating frame 12 about portion 15 and consists of activating rod 31 piercing strips 18, 20 and 21 and extending for a distance on either side, as shown. Rod 31 is prevented from lateral movement by a pin 32 in strip 18 passing through rod 31 (see FIG. 3). Rod 31 is provided with an outwardly bent portion 33 for the purpose of attaching a tension spring 34. Spring 34 is attached to portion 33 at one of its ends, and at its other end to the short horizontal portion 17 of support 13, as shown thus constituting a snap-over-center spring arrangement.

A pulley 35 is rotatably mounted on angular portion 16 of support 13 by any suitable means and an operating cable 36 on the pulley is attached to another end of rod 31 as at 37, as shown.

A stop 38 is provided for support of the target 25, when in a horizontal position, and consists of a vertically disposed pipe, imbedded at its lower end in base 11.

Means to stop target holding frame 12 in its vertical position is provided, and, as shown, consists of an inverted U-shaped member 39 of rounded metal stock having its ends embedded in the base 11 adjacent one end of base 11. This member 39 serves also as a handle. Another similar handle 40, also having its ends imbedded in base 11 is provided at another end of the base 11.

Counterbalancing means are provided for balancing frame 12 and comprise a plurality of weights 41, best seen in FIG. 3. These weights 41 are attached to strip 22 by bolts 42, or by welding.

If desired, any other type of counterbalancing means may be used, such as a metal bar, etc., not shown.

The operation of the target holder 10 is extremely simple.

Assume that frame 12 is in its vertical position, with target 25 upright so that it can be fired at. When it is desired to pull the target 25 out of range of fire, or for concealment, all that is necessary is to give cable 36 a tug in one direction. Since target 25 and frame 12 will rotate only through due to stops 38 and 39 and since portion 16 of support 13 is at a 45 angle, spring 34 will reach its maximum tension when actuating rod 31 is rotated 45, and rod 31 and spring 34 are both at a 45 angle, the tension of spring 34 will cause target holder frame 12 with target 25 to snap into a horizontal position, being stopped at the end of a 90 rotation by stop 38.

To elevate target 25, the cable 36 is again pulled in the same direction as at first, and the process is reversed through the snap action of spring 34.

It is apparent that the target holder of the invention may be quickly and easily elevated into a position for the firer or lowered to an out-of-line firing position.

While only a preferred form of the invention has been shown and described, other forms of the invention are contemplated and numerous changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A target holder comprising a base; a horizontal support on said base; a target holding frame rotatably mounted on said support; a tension spring attached at one of its ends to said base, itsother end being attached to said target holding frame, the longitudinal axis of said horizontal support being positioned intermediate said attaching points thereby constituting a snap-over-center spring arrangement; and an operating cable in connection with said target holding frame whereby said target holding frame is automatically rotated by said tension spring into a horizontal or vertical position by consecutive pulls in the same direction on said cable to move said target holding frame to about a 45 position with respect to the vertical.

2. A target holder comprising, a base, a horizontal support mounted on said base, a target holding frame rotatably mounted on said horizontal support, an activating rod fixed to, and piercing said frame, a tension spring connected at one of its ends to an end of said rod, and at its other end to said base, a pulley on said support, an operating cable passing around said pulley and connected to the other end of said rod, said spring developing its maximum tension when said rod is at a 45 angle with respect to the vertical whereby when said cable is pulled, said frame, if in a vertical position, will snap into a horizontal position and, upon a sceond pull of said cable, it will snap over into the vertical position.

3. A target holder as set forth in claim 2 wherein said support comprises a unitary member having an upstanding leg anchored at its lower end in said base and being bent, at its upper end to form a horizontal portion for rotatable attachment of said frame thereon, then bent downward at a 45 angle to be anchored in said base and then bent outwardly to protrude for a distance therefrom to form an anchor for said tension spring.

4. A target holder comprising, a base, a horizontal support mounted on the top side of said base, a target holding frame rotatably mounted on said support, balancing means carried by said frame, an activating bar piercing said frame and disposed normal thereto, a tension spring connected at one of its ends to one end of said bar and at its other end to said base, a pulley attached to said support, and an operating cable attached to the other end of said bar, said spring being under its greatest tension when said bar is rotated into a position by said cable, whereby said frame, under the urging of said spring will snap into a horizontal or a vertical position.

5. A target holder as set forth in claim 4 wherein said balancing means comprise a series of weights fixed to the lower end of said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,531,420 3/1925 Shears 273-41 1,831,289 11/1931 Dally 273105.6 1,865,988 7/1932 Wiedeck 273-1056 FOREIGN PATENTS 29,707 1910 Great Britain. 91,344 3/1958 Norway.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner. 

